Dublin Park

PROS: A family friendly park with an awesome playground. + ACEABILITY + So short that aces seem inevitable. Although, I'm not sure the shallow baskets or chains will hold the disc very well when the chains are smashed. + FORGIVENESS + An open to lightly wooded layout with no overgrowth and no hazards. Losing a disc here would be next to impossible. The course is very beginner friendly. + FAMILTY FRIENDLY + Lots of other park amenities in addition to this beginner friendly disc golf layout ...
continue reading ›

PROS:
A family friendly park with an awesome playground.
+ ACEABILITY + So short that aces seem inevitable. Although, I'm not sure the shallow baskets or chains will hold the disc very well when the chains are smashed.
+ FORGIVENESS + An open to lightly wooded layout with no overgrowth and no hazards. Losing a disc here would be next to impossible. The course is very beginner friendly.
+ FAMILTY FRIENDLY + Lots of other park amenities in addition to this beginner friendly disc golf layout.
+ NAVIGATION + Not to bad as the course is really open. I had to do a little recon with there being no map and I accidently threw to basket (4) from tee (3). I've made a map and posted my findings to DGCR.
+ QUICK PLAY + I pulled off a solo round in 30 minutes, but it shouldn't even take that long to play this short layout. My first round was plagued with park being full of people and my second round was recon to make a course map. Running the layout in 20 minutes solo should be possible.
+ ELEVATION + Nothing major but I am surprised that this course is above average for the area. Hole (1) is a 20 foot down shot. Hole (6) has a 15 foot gulley right of the basket. Hole (7) and (8) are both up about 15 to 20 feet to the base of the tennis courts.
+ MAINTENANCE + The grounds have been in immaculate for both of my visits. No trash no dead branches or even twigs on the ground. The park staff must come through daily to keep this park in tip-top shape, or I got lucky and came right after some park clean-ups.

CONS:
Substantial issues with Dublin Park
- SAFETY HAZARDS - The thought of nailing a car or park patron really never left my mind. Roads in play on several shots; (1), (2), (4), (5) and (6). I've waited on all of those holes for vehicles to clear. Also, lots of kids running around everywhere. There is really no way to fix these issues other than reducing the amount of holes. There just isn't enough room here.
- BASKET AND TEE SEPARATION - The next tee marker is located within 30 feet of the prior basket on a few occasions. In addition the entire layout feels squeezed.
- CHAINS - They are playable but among the oddest I've ever come across. I believe they are "Instep". They don't make that nice ching noise that you'd expect of the Mach's, DISCatchers or Chainstars. In addition, the chains are very light. On a positive note, the baskets are numbered.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - Way too easy for a vast majority of players. Recreation players will probably even find the challenge a bit to light for their liking. The most challenging part of this layout is the chains on the basket.
- CHARACTER - The course lacks just about every course character item found at an older established course. No community board, course map or hole signage, just hole marking posts with a number. Also no seating, practice basket, trash cans, alternate tees or alternate pin placements.
- TEES - They are natural without a defined line. Thankfully, but not surprising, there is no tee pitting.
- UNIQUENESS - The second least unique course I've scored in the Huntsville area, just better than Logan Park. Dublin Park is mostly an open layout with a spattering of trees. There is a little bit of elevation to contend with and its usage is above average for the area. Baskets are lightly guarded or not at all. All par 3s and the longest hole, (9), isn't much over 300 feet. No water features, doglegs or twisting holes either.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - Not an eyesore by any means, but you won't find any photo's of Dublin Park gracing the centerfold of Play Disc magazine. On a hole by hole basis, I'm not sure if I'd rate any of them even average for beauty. Way too many man-made objects in view from chain link fences, to playgrounds, to roads. It's an uninspiring mix.

OTHER THOUGHTS:
Dublin Park is a very sub-par course. It has a really small footprint, lies in multi-use park and has all the typical issues associated with courses of this make-up. Other than parents with small kids, I'm not sure who else would play here. Well... I guess a bagger like me, but only once...well twice. I brought my daughter the second time.
‹ less text

There are only nine holes with 10 baskets (2 on hole 10) with possible birdies on all holes although alternate 10 is tough. This is course to go to if you like to challenge yourself to see how many birdies you can get. Don't over-estimate your chance to birdie all of them because the course sloops up and down, plus a few trees to make you think twice before throwing. A good way to play18 holes in is to play the second nine with different tee pads. For example, on hole 1, back up 40 feet and see ...
continue reading ›

There are only nine holes with 10 baskets (2 on hole 10) with possible birdies on all holes although alternate 10 is tough. This is course to go to if you like to challenge yourself to see how many birdies you can get. Don't over-estimate your chance to birdie all of them because the course sloops up and down, plus a few trees to make you think twice before throwing. A good way to play18 holes in is to play the second nine with different tee pads. For example, on hole 1, back up 40 feet and see if you can control that disc downhill with precision. On hole 2, go left of the tree the second time. On hole 3, throw from the road and try to hit the gap between the tree towers. There is a playground nearby, so you need to be very careful. Very nice rec course to take a beginner or just a way to practice 150+ feet upshots. The best hole is hole 7 which requires a turnover for right-handers and an ability to throw up hill between a few trees. Don't be too proud to try this very aesthetic course that is wrapped in soccer fields and tennis courts. More than likely you will leave unhappy because you didn't birdie as many as you thought you could. Don't forget to play the road as OB and plan for a little wind. Calling this a pitch and putt is up to you.
‹ less text